Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-05-25

office upon himself, for He says GAS one
whom his mother comforteth, so will COM
fort you.' Unexpected fountains of re-
lreshment spring up even in the desert
so the psalmist tells us that the weary pill
grim passing through the Valley of Baca,
| no matter how sterile and gloomy, will find
it full of little pools which the rain has
| filled. There may be no ever-fowing foun-
| tain there, but many a thirsty soldier on
the rapid march has stopped down to
moisten his lips from the little basins which
the rain has filled.
am impressed by the fact that, great as
have been the triumphs of human genius
in enlarging the boundaries of knowledge
and in the discovery of truths valuable and
new,
NOT ONE NEW CONSOLATION
for sorrow has been discovered by all the
wise men of the world since the Bible was
written. Whatever of true comfort the
bruised or broken heart Graves is found
there alone. When all the springs of earth
ly refreshment are dried up, how unutter-
ably soothing is the invitation:
Come, ye disconsolate. where'er ye languish,
Come TO the mercy seat, fervently kneel;
Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell
your anguish;
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot
heal"
a. Lastly, let this pulpit ever resound
with encouragements to perseverance in the
discharge of all duty and in preparation for
the sinless, sorrowless life of holiness and
peace beyond these mortal Shores 'They
go from strength to strength" says the
Psalmist. sEvery one of them in Zion ap-
peareth before God."
The physical strength of the inmates of
this Home, already diminished by age, or
wounds, or disease, must of course grow
less and less as the years wear on, but
THE SPIRITUAL STRENGTH
of those who look to God for grace may in
crease until the hour when the final call
shall come.
The SOULS dark cottage. battered and decayed,
Lets in new light through chinks that time has
made.
Stronger by weakness, wiser men become
AS they draw near to their eternal home"
When of all the present inmates of this
Home there shall at last be but one survi-
vOr, l trust that his answer to the call
from Heaven, the true home, may be as
calm and peaceful as that which is told us
in pathetic passage which has now become
a classic in our language.
The scene was in the still cloisters of
Gray Friars. cat the usual evening hour
the chapel-bell began to toll, and Thomas
Newcome's hand, just outside the bed,
feebly beat atime, and just as the last bell
struck peculiar sweet smile stole over his
face, and he lifted his head little and
quickly said
'ADsUM r'
and fell back. 1t was the word he used at
school when names were called, and 10 he
whose heart was as that of a little child had
answered to his name and stood in the
presence of his Maker"
AS long as one hallowed memory fingers
here, the inmates of this Home will never
lack an example or an incentive to noble
living. The statue of the Apollo Belvidere
is regarded as the most majestic represen-
tation OF manly symmetry and strength
which the world contains. It is said that
those who look at it, instinctively stand
erect and unconsciously assume loftier at
titude. So will it be with the spiritual
bearing of those who contemplate the
character of the man from whom this in
stitution derives its honored name. The
soul erects itself at such a contemplation
and looks upward.
But while l thus speak the vision Of
another form rises higher-the form after
which Lee modelled his life-the form of
the Goldman. Likeness to that Divine
Exemplar means noble career, a peaceful
death, and glorious immortality.